Native American Community Help
In the early 1800s, our tribe was relocated to the High Desert of Central Oregon. There were two other tribes who were placed here with us. We are now the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. The US government sent us here because the early settlers did not want this area. They made their homes in the rich lands that used to be ours. In 1865, we signed a treaty with the war department who now call themselves the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
One of the greatest things in life is change. We had no problem adapting to the High Desert because we knew all too well that our Creator lived here, too. Here in Warm Springs, we have an approximate 15-20 acre community garden where all of our people, including our children and elders, have been planting their own supplementary foods. The garden is a wonderful place to come together each year, watching the miracle of seeds turn into an abundance of healthy edibles.
It's almost late this year in planting some foods. Soon, it will be summer. The man who always cultivated our land retired so the acres can no longer be prepared for our yearly harvests. It requires larger equipment to cultivate the many acres.
Our 3-acre tribal garden and my people would be most appreciative of your help. It would be a blessing to see this labor of love continue on for many years to come, to feed our families.
Donations will provide our people the ability to purchase a used tractor (example as shown in these photos, priced at appx $2900 to $3500), a plow and a much needed 72" cultivator in order to be self-sufficient in caring for a large parcel of land. If we are unable to reach this main goal for the larger pieces of equipment, all donations will go to the community garden for other needed tools and smaller equipment, much of which is very old and well used.
If you prefer to donate by phone, feel free to call me at 1-888-590-1150. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Edmond, the community gardens' caretaker.
On behalf of myself and my people of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, thank you for your consideration.
Charles Littleleaf
Enrolled Tribal Member of Warm Springs
